Sacrifice: Laid Bare (Laid Bare #4)(2)

Oh no! Is Lucien intending to hurt himself?

I once heard his kind couldn’t end their lives, not by their own hand. But death by another, that was possible.

Good God. Was Lucien planning to have this powerful being, Dunne, end him?

Well, that just won’t be happening. Not if I have a say. Sorry, Lucien.

The rest of the plane trip was quiet, with Lucien and I lost in our own thoughts. I tried to sneak another peak inside his head once we embarked on the helicopter leg of our journey, but he shut me out.

“Stop it, Dahlia,” he warned, his deep brown eyes flashing as he peered over at me in aggravation.

One thing was certain—I was pissing him off. And that was a dangerous game to play. His patience was worn thin as it was.

Now that I suspected he meant himself harm, though, I couldn’t back away.

I tried again and again to enter his mind, and again and again he thwarted me.

I watched as Lucien's agitation grew, running his large hands down his finely chiseled face and up through his raven hair.

The power balance between us had never been more out of whack. But I reveled in my new, stronger position. I was determined to find out what Lucien was up to, simply so I could stop it. In any case, I knew this power imbalance wouldn’t last long. Lucien would correct it as soon as he got a chance, and he’d probably do so through sex. He wielded his power the fiercest when he was f*cking, which meant I had to remain strong and not have sex with him.

That was going to be difficult. Just knowing I couldn’t have Lucien made me want him all the more.

I slid my leg away from where it was pressed to his, and when we were no longer touching, I swear I saw him smirk.

Give me strength.

When we arrived at the next point in our travels—the spot where we were to switch to an all-terrain SUV—the light snow that had been falling picked up significantly. Lucien and I ran hand-in-hand from the helicopter to the waiting SUV, while the icy cold cut through the heavy parkas we’d donned. It was like those extra layers were nothing.

“It’s freezing this far north,” I yelled over the whir of the now-departing helicopter.

Lucien laughed. “You think this is bad, wait till we arrive at our destination.”

Despite his lighthearted tone, I could feel tension rolling off him. I knew it was due to my earlier actions, and I therefore felt terrible.

Once inside the vehicle, I brushed snow from the parka and thought about how to right this situation without giving away too much of my lingering power. I had to do something. I’d pushed too far and too fast. I could tell from Lucien’s dark expression and tense posture that I was in for it. We were finally alone and he could be his full, true self.

“Do you think this is a game, Dahlia?” he said tightly, surely having read my mind.

I grew a tiny bit afraid. “No,” I squeaked out.

“Then”—he twisted in his seat to face me—“why are you trying to one-up me every chance you get? I know some of my power remains in you. Don’t think I can’t feel you using it against me. Why would you do such a thing, Dahlia, why?”

I was aghast. I hadn’t meant to upset him this much.

“I, uh, I didn’t mean to, Lucien. Not really,” I stammered. He harrumphed, and I added defiantly, “I don’t really see it like that, anyway.”

I felt small as he undid his seatbelt and leaned over me menacingly. “Oh, really? Please, Dahlia, do tell me how you do see it.”

Ooh, I had to think fast. I couldn’t tell Lucien I was on to him.

“Uh, I just like that I can match you, that’s all. But since it upsets you so much, I promise I won’t do it again.”

He leaned in closer.

I pressed against the passenger door, but there was no escaping him. It was a veritable blizzard outside the comfy confines of the SUV, so running away was out. Not to mention, there was nothing but wilderness all around us and it was growing dark. I was f*cked.

Lucien smirked. “Not yet, but you’re about to be.”

“You’re back in my head,” I accused. “But…but I can’t feel you there.”

This was something different. It was like his power had grown stronger, same as mine. Well, the little bit I had.

“It’s because we’re close to Dunne,” he murmured, like he was thinking the same thing.

Lucien shrugged out of his parka and suit jacket. He then began unbuttoning his expensive dress shirt.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “Shouldn’t we get started on our way to Dunne’s place?”

“Not yet,” he replied distractedly as he turned up the heat.

When I lowered my gaze to his lap, I noticed he was hardening beneath his dark pants. I always wanted Lucien, and I couldn’t deny his state of arousal turned me on now. My pushing his limits, making him mad, it was the best foreplay.

But there was something else in the car with us, something dark. It was driving Lucien, and I could feel it trying to compel me.

Despite the sudden urge to rip off my clothes and spread out on the front seat for Lucien, in a shaky voice, I muttered, “Maybe we should wait.”

He continued to undress, ignoring me. He had on nothing beneath his dress slacks, so when he slid the fine material down his hips, his cock sprang free.

I immediately grew unbearably wet, but my unease that it was more than he and I driving our actions had me clambering over the back of the passenger seat to reach the long bench seat behind me.